Burning smell or hot power point: what to do right now

If you smell burning, see smoke or sparks, or a power point is hot to touch, stay away from it and keep others away. If there is smoke, fire or sparks, leave the building and call 000. Otherwise, stop using it and call a licensed electrician urgently. Do not wait to see if it settles.

Why is a burning smell or hot power point serious?

Heat in electrical wiring usually means electricity is meeting resistance somewhere it should not, such as a loose connection, an overloaded cable or damaged insulation. Heat can build up inside walls and fittings where you cannot see it, and it can start a fire. A faint smell or slightly warm fitting is still a warning.

What can cause it?

• A loose connection at a power point, switch, plug or switchboard.
• Too much load on a cable, power board or double adaptor.
• Damaged or ageing wiring or appliance cords.
• A failing appliance, such as a heater, hot water system or dryer.

The same applies to a burning smell from a hot water system, an appliance or the switchboard. Treat each as urgent.

What should I not do?

• Do not touch a hot, scorched or damaged power point, plug or cord.
• Do not keep using the equipment because it seems to be working.
• Do not throw water on an electrical fire.
• Do not wait until the next day if the smell is strong or the fitting is getting hotter.

Why does a licensed electrician need to fix it?

Finding and repairing the source of heat means working on live wiring and connections. In Queensland, electrical work must be done by a licensed electrician, and the Electrical Safety Office Queensland is the regulator. Their emergency guidance is at electricalsafety.qld.gov.au. A licensed electrician can find the source, repair any damage and check that nothing else on the circuit is affected.

Is the smell coming from outside?

If a burning smell appears alongside a street-wide outage, or you suspect the problem is on the network, contact your network provider’s faults line. If you are unsure, treat it as a household problem and call a licensed electrician.

What will the electrician look for?

A licensed electrician will look for signs of heat damage, loose or burnt connections, overloaded cables and failing fittings, and will check the rest of the circuit for similar problems. Where they find damage they will repair or replace the affected parts and explain what caused it. They can also advise whether a power board, adaptor or heavy appliance has been overloading the circuit, so it does not happen again.